I think I have been in a state of denial about the trip coming to an end. The last couple of days in India were so full of life that it was hard to imagine coming home and yet, as I reflect on the six weeks, NZ side, I don’t even know where to start. Our final few weeks in India saw a group of Australians join, adding so much excitement and awe to the trip. Something that I don’t think we had lost, but the team was undoubtedly a bit jaded after an intense month. How does one begin to explain this trip? My words simply would not do it justice. So, for this last post, I want to walk down the events of our last full day in India – A day that accurately reflects the experience.
We drove from Delhi to Agra, about a 5-hour journey with a stop along the way at JCB, a digger manufacturer that specialises in a product suited to the Indian market. We then had lunch in Agra at Sheroes Cafe, a cafe run by survivors of acid attacks that seeks to build up women and see them integrated back into society. These random side trips reflect the jam-packed and diverse nature of the trip. Every day had a unique flare and theme that challenged me.
Then, on to the Taj Mahal, and all I can say is, wow! An iconic structure, one of the new 7 wonders of the world, a building that I would say is what a lot of people around the world, think of when they hear India. You walk through the main gate, and aligned perfectly is the building of the hour. A loving act to a late wife or the ultimate act of arrogance of power? We will never know, but you cannot deny its beauty. Its symmetry is fascinating, with the only thing not symmetrical was the mausoleum, where Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan is buried to the left of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the building’s namesake. We were there at sunset, and golden hour really made it shine. I probably took the most photos of the entire trip on this day, and that is saying something, considering my lack of photography during this trip – see my previous blog post for reference. However, this was still pretty minimal, as I simply wanted to soak every moment up. The craftsmanship was phenomenal; I will never know how they achieved such precision. We were there for about 2 hours, enough time to completely blow my expectations out of the water. We then hit the road for a 5-hour bus ride back to Delhi, arriving at 10:30pm for our final dinner.
This day, whilst packed, has been the experience of almost every day on this trip, and the fact we got to see so many cities and experiences that are indeed once in a lifetime has left me speechless. There are no words to describe my gratitude for what this trip has shown, taught and exposed me to.
Ngā mihi maioha India
